Restoring and Enhancing the Shropshire Union Canals

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Restoring and Enhancing the Shropshire Union Canals

The Shropshire Union Canal system was a The Shropshire Union Canal Society was network of over 200 miles which emerged as formed to protect and enhance the canals of an entity in the 1840’s following a series of the historic Shropshire Union system in mergers. Today, its surviving parts are England and Wales, and since 1969 we have known as the Shropshire Union main line, been actively engaged in the restoration of the the Middlewich Branch, the Llangollen Canal Montgomery Canal. and the Montgomery Canal. Our volunteers have a string of projects to their credit, including: Pool Quay, Bank and Crowther Hall Locks: 1974 - 1979 Carreghofa Locks and pound: 1979 - 1986 Burgedin Locks and pound: 1987 - 1998 Brynderwen Lock: 1998 - 2002 Newhouse Lock: 2002 - 2006 Bridges 83 - 84 channel: 2008 - 2014 The Society has also installed mooring rings and other facilities at numerous locations around the SU system. We are currently working to restore the channel between Bridges 84 and 85, part of the 2.75 miles of dry canal that separates the isolated part of the Montgomery from the national network. To find out more, please visit the Society’s website: www.shropshireunion.org.uk If you would like to join the Society, please see Restoring and Enhancing the website or contact our Membership Secretary on 01630 656525. the Shropshire Union Canals Published by the Shropshire Union Canal Society, 2017. Channel excavation between Bridges 84 and 85. Newhouse Lock after restoration by the Society. Hedge-laying on a frosty morning. The current project is about 800 m but will extend The project won the Royal Institute of Chartered We have laid about one mile of hedge over nine navigation by 2 km. A grant from the HLF means that Surveyors’ Welsh Project of the Year award. winters. this project is already fully funded. Our volunteers in 2014, celebrating re-watering Maintenance at the Weston Arm picnic area. between bridges 83 and 84. Over 400 m of channel was The work included re-surfacing the towpath, A fundraising ‘lock-wind’. excavated and lined and over 40,000 concrete blocks constructing new approaches to allow wheelchair were used to cover the waterproof lining. access, painting tables and repairing brickwork. .

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A Walk from Church Minshull
A Walk to Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina photo courtesy of Bernie Stafford Aqueduct Marina, the starting point for this walk, was opened in February 2009. The marina has 147 berths, a shop and a café set in beautiful Cheshire countryside. With comprehensive facilities for moorers, visiting boaters and anyone needing to do, or have done, any work on their boat, the marina is an excellent starting point for exploring the Cheshire canal system. Starting and finishing at Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina, this walk takes in some of the prettiest local countryside as well as the picturesque village of Church Minshull and the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Some alternative routes are also included at the end to add variation to the walk which is about five or six miles, depending on the exact route taken. Built to join the Trent and Mersey Canal with the Chester Canal, the Middlewich Branch carried mainly coal, salt and goods to and from the potteries. Built quite late in the canal building era, like so many other canals, this canal wasn’t as successful as predicted. Today, however, it is a very busy canal providing an essential link between the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich and the Llangollen Canal as well as being part of the Four Counties Ring and linking to the popular Cheshire Ring boating route. The Route Leaving the marina, walk to the end of the drive and turn north (right) onto the B5074 Church Minshull road and walk to the canal bridge. Cross the canal and turn down the steps on the right onto the towpath, then walk back under the bridge, with the canal on your left.
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Middlewich from Nantwich | UK Canal Boating
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